Kelly giving Duke quite the boost

After Ryan Kelly's 36-point performance against Miami, things could be looking up for the Blue Devils.

The Associated Press

By Conor O’Neill, Halifax Media Group

Published: Tuesday, March 5, 2013 at 06:32 AM.

Duke forward Mason Plumlee said he saw something against Miami that he hadn’t seen in the previous 13 games.

Actually, Plumlee was referring to the fact that he never faced a double team in the post, a direct correlation with the return of fellow forward Ryan Kelly.

“They didn’t double at all, so that’s something that’s new,” Plumlee said. “(Kelly) was putting on a clinic out there. At Virginia (last week), I couldn’t touch the ball without seeing two guys, and I don’t think that’ll happen as much with him on the floor.”

Kelly returned against Miami after missing 13 games — during which the Blue Devils were 9-4. The senior was better than ever before, netting a career-high 36 points.

Now, Duke faces a sort of convenient problem.

“We were bailing water, making sure the ship stayed afloat and we bailed enough to stay with a really good ranking,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in response to what the team is capable of with Kelly’s return. “The thing it does for us is it gives us a chance over the next few weeks to transition into the NCAA tournament.

“We’re just running a little bit different race than anybody else right now. It doesn’t mean everything is OK, but it’s a lot better. We have to transition over the next couple weeks.”

Duke forward Mason Plumlee said he saw something against Miami that he hadn’t seen in the previous 13 games.

Actually, Plumlee was referring to the fact that he never faced a double team in the post, a direct correlation with the return of fellow forward Ryan Kelly.

“They didn’t double at all, so that’s something that’s new,” Plumlee said. “(Kelly) was putting on a clinic out there. At Virginia (last week), I couldn’t touch the ball without seeing two guys, and I don’t think that’ll happen as much with him on the floor.”

Kelly returned against Miami after missing 13 games — during which the Blue Devils were 9-4. The senior was better than ever before, netting a career-high 36 points.

Now, Duke faces a sort of convenient problem.

“We were bailing water, making sure the ship stayed afloat and we bailed enough to stay with a really good ranking,” said Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski in response to what the team is capable of with Kelly’s return. “The thing it does for us is it gives us a chance over the next few weeks to transition into the NCAA tournament.

“We’re just running a little bit different race than anybody else right now. It doesn’t mean everything is OK, but it’s a lot better. We have to transition over the next couple weeks.”

In Kelly’s absence, Seth Curry had elevated his game and averaged nearly 20 points per game in 10 games before Saturday. Fellow guard Rasheed Sulaimon had also raised his game, recording double-digit scoring efforts in nine of the 13 games Kelly missed.

With Kelly back, Curry and Sulaimon scored seven points each and shot a combined 5-for-15.

Curry — a senior and co-captain with Kelly and Plumlee – said that while Kelly won’t be expected to pour in 36 every game, he and Sulaimon won’t struggle to the tune of 33-percent field goal shooting for the rest of the season.

“Other guys that have been playing well didn’t play as well, like me and ’Sheed, didn’t knock down the shots we usually make,” Curry said. “Our offense can get a lot better.”

Point guard Quinn Cook, who was able to benefit from Kelly’s return and score 11 of his 15 points in the second half, also said once Duke adjusted to seeing Kelly back on the court, that was when the offense started clicking.

“Once (we) got used to him, that’s when everybody else stepped up and made their shots,” Cook said. “That’s why we were so good, we had different options on our team.”

Entering the game against Miami after a loss at Virginia, Plumlee said there was a feeling on the team that had missing for awhile.

“We were at a point where we needed something fresh and Ryan gave us that (Saturday) and he will going forward,” Plumlee said. “He just gives us a different dynamic. Just him being in a practice uniform (last week) gave us a freshness.”

Just about the only thing that doesn’t change for Duke with Kelly’s return will be the ACC standings. Despite the loss, Miami only needs to win one of two remaining home games against Georgia Tech and Clemson to win the conference.